Diverting means for conveyor system



United States Patent Joseph Francis Laukaitis; Milton Edwin Meerdink;Robert Joseph l-lerberger, Rochester, New York Inventors Appl. No.790,658

Filed Jan. 13, 1969 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Assignee Eastman KodakCompany Rochester, New York a corporation of New Jersey DIVERTING MEANSFOR CONVEYOR SYSTEM 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 209/73,

209/74; 198/24 Int. Cl B07c 3/06 Field of Search 198/24,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,199,673 8/1965 Flint 209/793,451,546 6/1969 Murley 209/73 Primary Examiner-Allen N. KnowlesAssistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorneys-Walter O. Hodson and WilliamE. Jackson ABSTRACT: A device for diverting unsealed cartons from aposition in a high speed production line at the output ofa cartonerwhich normally seals the flaps of cartons. The device functions todivert a group of cartons which remain unsealed because of a priorstoppage of the cartoner. A control means insures that only unsealedcartons are diverted from the normal output of sealed cartons althoughthe control means can be arranged so that any carton can be removed,sealed or unsealed, as desired.

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ATTORNEY 8 AGENT Patent ed Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet 012 JOSEPH F LAUKA/T/SM/L TON E MEERD/NK ROBERT J. HEBERGEI? INVENTORS ATTORN Y 8 AGE/VTDIVERTING MEANS FOR CONVEYOR SYSTEM This invention relates in general toconveyor systems of the type used for distributing such articles ascartons and the like in a production line, and more particularly, thisinvention relates to an improved means for diverting selected articlesfrom such conveyor systems.

Many industries presently use production lines to manufacture theirproducts more economically. Many such lines perform a variety ofoperations to arrive at the final product which is then cartoned andbundled automatically prior to shipment to the customer. Although theseproduction lines are often designed to run continuously, stoppages ofthe lines may occur during equipment malfunctions, or the like. Whenstarting the production lines after a stoppage, it is desirable toprovide some means to remove products from the line which are improperlyor incompletely processed as a result of the stoppage.

By way of example, cartoners are currently available for continuouslypackaging products in sealed cartons at a relatively high rate, e.g. 500per minute. These cartoners may use heat-activated glue for sealing theflaps of the cartons. The output of the cartoners may be fed to conveyorsystems which carry the cartons to equipment which bundles them forshipping. However, if the cartoner is stopped, then a group of unsealedcartons may be produced if heat is not applied to activate the glue.When the cartoner is started again, it is desirable to remove the groupof unsealed cartons from the production line so that they will not beshipped to the customer. While the group of unsealed cartons could beremoved manually, a more reliable and rapid removal would be desirable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a diverting devicewhich is adapted to withdraw selected articles from a production linewithout requiring attention on the part of an operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and highlyreliable device which may be used in conjunction with conventionalcartoners for diverting unsealed cartons from the production line aftera stoppage of the same.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a diverting devicewhich will operate at high speeds without jamming and which isespecially adapted to be operated by automatic control systems.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art by the description of a preferred embodimentof the invention which follows.

The objects of the present invention are accomplished by a divertingdevice which includes one pair of conveyor belts which normally embraceand convey spaced articles from an input to an output position. A secondpair of conveyor belts normally embrace and convey the same spacedarticles, but, unlike the first, the second pair do not extend to theoutput position. Thus, the spaced articles are normally conveyed, firstby four embracing belts, and then by two belts between the intermediatepoint, where the second belts end, and the output position. A divertermeans is arranged to divert a selected group of cartons from theirnormal path after they pass the intermediate point. The diverter meansmay be selectively operated by a control means which includes anindexing device, means to signal the indexing device after each articleenters at the input position, and means to detect an article before itapproaches the intermediate point.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals and characters designate the parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the control means for operating thediverting means so that selected group of articles will be removed froma conveyor system;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the right-hand portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the general cooperation of elementsto cause diversion of a selected group of articles from a productionline. Although these elements and their principles of operation could beused to effect diversion of various articles from production lines ofmany types, they will be described in relation to a cartoner which usesheat-sensitive glue to seal the flaps of cartons. It should be apparentthat the disclosed elements and principles could also be applied toequipment for filling cartons, wrapper-applying equipment, and the like.For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that the cartoner has beenstopped and there is a group of six unsealed cartons within the sealingsection of the cartoner. When the cartoner is started up again, thegroup of unsealed cartons should be diverted from the subsequentproduction line. This diversion is reliably accomplished by a systemincluding the control elements of FIG. 1.

Indexing device 2, which may be a conventional shift register, isautomatically armed, as though it has received six pulses, if thecartoner is stopped longer than 15 seconds, which is the time requiredfor the heat-sensitive glue to harden. For purposes of illustration, itis further assumed that indexing device 2 can count a total of 12 pulsesbefore indicating a reject condition. When the cartoner is started, theindexing device 2 will count the number of machine cycle pulsessubsequently received from pulse source 1. This pulse source 1 producesone pulse for each cartoner cycle, equivalent to a time ofa cartonpassing through the cartoner. After six cycles of the cartoner, theindexing device 2 will be set to a reject condition, e.g. six pulsesupon arming and six more pulses after starting. At this time, the groupof six unsealed cartons will have moved to a point outside anddownstream of the cartoner. Just downstream of the first of these sixunsealed cartons, a sensor 3 is located. This sensor may be aphotoelectric system which produces a signal each time a carton passesits location. The system of FIG. 1 is designed to use a conventionaland" circuit so that, if the indexing device 2 indicates a rejectcondition and the sensor 3 detects a carton, then a signal operates thesolenoid 4 of the carton diverter means shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4.The indexing device 2 is such that it will indicate a reject conditionfor six successive cycles of the cartoner (corresponding to the fixednumber in the group of unsealed cartons produced whenever the cartoneris stopped). Thus, the solenoid 4 of the diverter means will beenergized until the indexing device 2 no longer indicates a rejectcondition and the group of six unsealed cartons will be diverted fromthe production line. As soon as the indexing device 2 does not indicatea reject condition. and the last carton has been diverted as indicatedby sensor 3, the solenoid for the diverter means will be deenergized andthe sealed cartons following after the diverted group will pass in theirnormal manner out of the cartoner to subsequent operations in theproduction line.

The system of FIG. 1 can be designed so that the unsealed carton output,due to a series of closely spaced starts and stops of the cartoner, willbe reliably diverted. The system would operate in substantially the samemanner as described above but would also have the capability to rearmthe indexing device 2 each time the cartoner is stopped even if onlyseveral machine cycles had preceded the rearming.

The system described above for FIG. 1 can be assembled from knownmechanical and electrical elements. For example, the pulses from thecartoner can be created by interrupting a photoelectrically sensed lightbeam for each carton, the index ing device can be a shift registerhaving a series of suitably connected relays, and the sensor 3 can be alight source and photocell as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The device according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The left-hand end, or input position, ofdevice 5 receives cartons C from a conventional cartoner (not shown).Device 5 comprises a frame 6 which mounts an upper pair of endlessrubber conveyor belts 7 and a similar lower pair of belts 7'. Thesebelts are mounted on the frame 6 by means of pulleys 8, pulley shafts 9,and pillow blocks 10. The belts 7,7 are simultaneously driven at thesame speed by means of a chain drive (not shown) connecting the cartonerto the sprockets 11. The device 5 extends from the input position, tothe right-hand end, or output position, which is adjacent a conveyor 12for the infeed of cartons C to a bundler (not shown). Conveyor 12travels at about the same speed as the belts 7, 7, so that delivery ofcartons C is smooth and carton spacing S is maintained. Guide rails 13confine the cartons C so they do not tip over during transition. As bestseen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper pair of conveyor belts 7 extend fromthe input to the output positions of the device 5 while the lower pairof rubber conveyor belts 7' extend only to an intermediate positionbetween the input and output positions. The length of the belts 7, 7'between the input and intermediate positions may be selected to providesufficient setting time for the heat-sensitive glue on the flaps ofcartons C. As seen in FIG. 4, the upper side portions of a carton C areembraced by belts 7 while the lower portions of the carton are embracedby belt 7'. Adjacent the intermediate position, frame 6 pivotally mountsa diverter arm 14 on a shaft 115. Diverter arm 14 is coupled to aplunger 16 of solenoid 4. Solenoid 4 may be energized selectivelyaccording to the procedures described above in connection with FIGv l todivert cartons C downwardly into a chute 17, or the like.

Frame 6 also mounts a light source 18 and a photocell 19 for detecting acarton C prior to the intermediate position on device 5. These elementsoperate in a manner described above in connection with sensor 3 in FIG.1 to energize solenoid 4 when the carton C is the leading carton ofagroup of unsealed cartons supplied from the cartoner (not shown) after astoppage. After the leading carton C is sensed, diverter arm 14 is movedby solenoid 4 to the dotted position in FIG. 3 and is held there untilthe entire group of unsealed cartons C are forced downwardly frombetween upper belts 7 which embrace the cartons C after they pass theintermediate position between the input and output positions.

The belts 7 and 7' receive individual cartons at the input position ofthe device 5. The speed of the cartons C, imparted by the conveyor 5relative to the cartoner (not shown), is such that normal spacing S canbe maintained between cartons passing through device 5. This spacing isof particular advantage to the reliable diversion of unsealed cartons Cat high speed without jamming. This spacing provides sufficient spacefor the diverter arm 14 to be moved to its lower position between belts7 preceeding the first unsealed carton in the group to be diverted andto its withdrawn position after the last of the group of unsealedcartons. To further insure the properly timed withdrawal of the arm,solenoid 20 can be added as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. Thissolenoid can be used to give more positive withdrawal movement of thediverter lever 14.

As an example of the present invention, cartons have been diverted froma production line moving at rates up to 500 cartons per minute. Thedevice was capable of diverting a group of six unsealed cartons and thenresuming the normal conveying of correctly sealed cartons from thecartoner to the infeed of the bundler conveyor.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. A device adapted to move articles from an input to an output positionand to divert selected articles as they move between said positions,said device comprising:

a. a first pair ofendless conveyor means adapted to embrace articles andextending between said input and output posltions;

b. a second pair of endless conveyor means adapted to embrace articlesand extending from said input position to an intermediate positionlocated between said input and output positions;

c. means mounting said first and second pair of conveyor means forembracing and moving articles; and

d. means mounted adjacent said intermediate position to divert articlesfrom the embrace of said first pair of conveyor means as they move fromsaid intermediate to said output position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said firstand second pairs of conveyor means comprise at lease two pairs ofpulleys, respectively, said first pair of conveyor means having pulleysat said input and output positions, and said second pair of conveyormeans having pulleys at said input and said intermediate positions.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said article diverting meanscomprises:

a pivotally mounted arm;

a solenoid plunger connected to said arm; and

a solenoid for moving said plunger to move the end of said arm into aposition between the conveyor means of said first pair so that itengages and diverts articles from the embrace of said first pair ofconveyor means.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said first and second pair ofendless conveyor means are adapted to embrace upper and lower sideportions of an article, respectively.

5. A device adapted to normally move sealed cartons from a cartoner tothe infeed conveyor for a carton bundler and further adapted to divertunsealed cartons as they move between said cartoner and said conveyor.said device compris ing:

a. a first pair of endless conveyor belts adapted to embrace cartons andextending between said cartoner and said infeed conveyor;

b. a second pair of endless conveyor belts adapted to embrace cartonsand extending from said cartoner to an intermediate position locatedbetween said cartoner and said infeed conveyor;

0. means mounting said first and second pair of belts for embracing andmoving cartons; and

d. means mounted adjacent said intermediate position to divert unsealedcartons from the embrace ofsaid first pair of belts as they move fromsaid intermediate position to said infeed conveyor.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said means for mounting said firstand second pairs of belts comprise at least two pairs ofpulleys,respectively, said first pair of belts having pulleys adjacent saidcartoner and said infeed conveyor. and said second pair of belts havingpulleys adjacent said cartoner and said intermediate position.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said carton diverting meanscomprises:

a pivotally mounted arm;

a solenoid plunger connected to said arm; and

a solenoid for moving said plunger to move the end of said arm into aposition between the belts of said first pair so that it engages anddiverts unsealed cartons from the embrace of said first pair of belts.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said first and second pair ofendless belts are adapted to embrace upper and lower side portions of acarton, respectively.

9. The invention of claim 2 wherein said articles diverting meanscomprises:

a pivotally mounted arm;

a solenoid plunger connected to said arm; and

a solenoid for moving said plunger to move the end of said arm into aposition between the conveyor means of said first pair so that itengages and diverts articles from the embrace of said first pair ofconveyor means.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said first and second pair ofendless conveyor means are adapted to embrace upper and lower sideportions of an article, respectively.

Ill. The invention of claim 6 wherein said carton diverting meanscomprises:

a pivotally mounted arm;

a solenoid plun er connected to said arm; and

a solenoid for moving said plunger to move the end of said arm into aposition between the belts of said first pair so that it engages anddiverts unsealed cartons from the embrace of said first pair of belts.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said first and second pair ofendless belts are adapted to embrace upper and lower side portions of acarton, respectively.

